Chapter 6. Wh*re

Gwen POV

His words left me stunned.

I had not thought that Damon could have security access in his absence, but maybe he was right because when I locked myself inside the restroom to check my appearance before going back to the after-wedding party, my phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number.

Instinctively, I knew it was Damon.

“I am sorry, love. I did not intend to leave you at the altar. Please wait for me.”

Tears blurred my eyes at the proof that Damon never planned to abandon me. He did not change his mind. It is not why he left me.

My chest tightened because I finally had assurance.

Damon is alright. He was coming back to me.

I don’t care why he suddenly ran off. I know that he had strong reasons to do that. All I wanted was an assurance that he was safe.

Quickly, just as the message instructed, I deleted it from my inbox and returned to the party.

Damian smiled when he saw me at the entryway. Then, he raised his glass to give a toast to me.

It was unexpected. It was not part of the program, but it was for keeping up appearances. I saw the approving nod coming from our coordinator and felt a little calmer.

From that moment onwards. It was as if we had a silent agreement. We both acted like normal newlyweds until the last of the guests bid their goodbyes.

After the party, the Cadillac that Damon owned sent us to the mansion I was occupying.

It was already planned that way. Damon and I will defer our honeymoon to next month after he wraps up his work.

When the limousine stopped, I began to move.

I got out of the car without waiting for Damian.

It took me a Herculean effort because the gown proved tricky. I even heard the low chuckle that he was trying to stifle unsuccessfully when he realized my predicament.

I was not expecting Damian to help me, nor did he offer. He just watched me struggling.

When I disentangled the long hem of my gown, I quickly marched into the house.

Damian was tailing right behind me.

I was about to go to the master’s bedroom when Damian stopped.

“What?” I asked with undisguised annoyance lacing my voice.

I stopped in my tracks, but I did not bother to turn around to face him.

To my surprise, I felt him grab my arm and very neatly handed me a small rectangular card.

I looked down to see what it was.

Disgust filled me when I realized it was the business card of Genna Black, who sits as the head of the HR Department of the Olson Hotels. She is also the bridesmaid that Damian was canoodling with in the garden.

“What do I need this for?”

Damian shrugged.

“Report to her tomorrow. You need to have a job.”

I don’t understand what he was doing. He came around unbidden, pretended to be Damon, and married me. Now he was changing everything. Damon and I planned for our lives.

“What? Damon wanted a stay-at-home wife, not a working wife.”

He grinned and leaned his right shoulder casually on the door jamb as if this were ordinary talk to him. When he was talking about taking charge of my life.

“He was not here. I was. So, you do what I f*cking says.”

My nails are digging right into my palm as I try to control my temper. I have only known Damian Olson for a few hours, but he was able to infuriate me to the size of a lifetime.

I flat-out said no.  My voice trembled in rage.

Damian Olson may be Damon’s twin brother, but he was not Damon. He can’t change the rules around here. I told him.

“Don’t tempt me, princess. You need to pay for your upkeep. Damon was not here, so I am going to make the rules from now on.”

My chest heaves. And before I could think about the consequences of my actions, my hand flew to land on his cheek, slapping him hard.

As expected, Damian retaliated. He grabbed me by the waist and pulled me hard toward him.

His action took me by surprise. I lost balance and grabbed hold of his arms.

This allowed my breath to press into the hard wall of his chest, making my heart pound fast in a mixture of anger, resentment… and excitement?

My brows furrowed in confusion. What is happening to me?

“Okay, if you want to stay at home, you can. But you have to work for me.”  Damian’s voice cut through my murky thoughts.

My eyes narrowed in suspicion. I did not like the way he sounded - low and flirty.

“Doing what?” I asked, sounding doubtful.

He leaned his face close to my ear, his hot breath fanning my skin.

“You can always warm my bed.”

I was appalled at the mere suggestion.

The audacity of the man!

Again, my hand lifted, but he was quicker this time, anticipating my mood. He took control of my hand while snaking his arm around my waist, causing my breath to hitch.

Eyes wide in shock, anger fueled my actions.

We struggled for a while, but I know that fighting back would be futile. Damian Olson is someone I did not know. He was in uncharted territory.

And I do not trust him.

“I am not a w*ore!” I hissed.

He looked dubious for a moment.

His expression infuriated me.

“Why not? You exchanged personal comfort for freedom.”

“That’s not true.” I denied hotly.

I shook my head, but Damian was not finished hurling accusation after accusation toward me.

“Let’s be frank here. My brother was nice enough to offer marriage, but what is marriage really? A contract of servitude so he can gain access to your body with a license?”

His tone was mocking as he trampled on my dignity.

“I am not a w*ore!” Again, I repeated the word to stamp it into his head.

“Then, prove it. You are not a free loader. You need to pay for your upkeep. Report to Genna Black tomorrow and go back to working at the Olson Hotel.”

I watched his departing back and made a decision for myself.

I cannot stay here.